(bio updated on 5/04/2021)
Wilhelmina Klaus was born on September 29, 1853* in the village of Stolowo, Poland (near Proszkowo, south of Mlawa). Her parents were Friedrich Klaus and Karoline Huse. The Klaus and Huse families were part of the German diaspora living in this area of Poland - likely since the Partitions of Poland in the 1790's. They attended the Lutheran Church in the nearby city of Mlawa.
On January 8, 1871, Wilhelmine married Konstantin Bayer, also of German descent. Konstantin was 7 years older than Wilhelmine. It is believed that Konstantin worked as a glass blower in a local factory. Together Wilhelmine and Konstantin made their home in Strzegowo, Poland (known as Striegenau in the German community), and they had 11 children:
1872 - Emilie (aka Amelia in the US), emigrated to the US in 1898
1875 (approx) - Edward, died in infancy
1878 - Wilhelm, emigrated to the US in 1905
1879 - Julius Wilhelm, died age 25-ish
1882 - Olga, emigrated to the US in 1904
1884 - Adolf, died in 1886
1886 - Paul, emigrated to the US in 1904
1888 - Ida, emigrated to the US in 1905
1890 - Juliana, emigrated to the US in 1907
1891 - Adolf, emigrated to the US in 1908
1895 - Anna, emigrated to the US in 1908
Daughter Emilie married in 1890, and had one surviving daughter Emilie (born in 1892). After Emilie's husband died in 1897, Emilie decided to emigrate to the United States in search of a better life. Her daughter Emilie was left in the care of grandparents Konstantin and Wilhelmine. In 1904, daughter Emilie followed her mother Emilie to the United States - she was accompanied by her uncle Paul Bayer.
Daughter Olga Bayer also emigrated to the United States in 1904, and was followed by Wilhelm and Ida in 1905, and then Juliana in 1907.
Konstantin Bayer died in 1906, from what is believed to be stomach cancer. In 1908, Wilhelmina (along with her youngest children Adolf and Anna) emigrated to the US - following all of her older children to Cleveland, Ohio.
In the US, Wilhelmina typically spent summers with her daughter Ida Bayer Heft (and family) in West Springfield Twp., Pennsylvania (just over the border from Ohio), and her winters with daughter Juliana (Julia) Bayer Krueger Abram (and family) in Cleveland.
On November 16, 1921, Wilhelmina remarried to an older widower named Ernest Walter (aka Walters), who was a neighbor of the Heft family in Pennsylvania. It was a small ceremony attended by the Hefts, some of Ernest's family and a few neighbors. It is said that Wilhelmina left Ernest shortly after they were married - but it is unknown if there was an official separation or divorce. Four years after their marriage (in 1925), Ernest died from injuries suffered in an automobile accident (it is said that he was thrown to the floor of a moving bus that stopped quickly).
Wilhelmina died September 30, 1937 in Cleveland at the age of 84 (see the note below). She is buried in Lutheran Cemetery in Cleveland. Daughter Julia never approved of her mother's second marriage, and made sure that her death certificate and headstone did not include any reference to her married name "Walter", but used "Bayer" instead.
From her obituary (unknown Cleveland newspaper on October 3, 1937); special thanks to Find A Grave user RMH for finding this in the Cleveland Necrology file:
Bayer, Wilhelmina, age 86 years, mother of Emilia Pfahl, William, Olga Mantz, Paul, Ida Heft, Julia (Krueger) Abram, Anna Teffner and the late Adolph, 31 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, Thursday at 8 a. m. residence, 3055 W. 15th st. Services at Immanuel Lutheran Church, corner Scranton-Seymour ave., Monday at 3 p. m.
*NOTE: According to her death certificate (and headstone), Wilhelmina Klaus Bayer was born on May 3, 1851. This information was reported by daughter Julia Bayer Krueger Abram, who insisted that her mother's birthday was the same as hers (May 3). Other family members (especially the family of daughter Ida Bayer Heft, with whom Wilhelmina spent her summers) believed this information to be incorrect. According to the Mlawa Evangelical Lutheran Church records, Wilhelmina was actually born on September 29, 1853 (and was baptized March 17, 1854). Her marriage record from the same church (dated January 8, 1871) indicates she was 17 years old, and references the 1854 baptism record - which corroborates her September 29, 1853 birthdate.
Wilhelmina Klaus was born on September 29, 1853* in the village of Stolowo, Poland (near Proszkowo, south of Mlawa). Her parents were Friedrich Klaus and Karoline Huse. The Klaus and Huse families were part of the German diaspora living in this area of Poland - likely since the Partitions of Poland in the 1790's. They attended the Lutheran Church in the nearby city of Mlawa.
On January 8, 1871, Wilhelmine married Konstantin Bayer, also of German descent. Konstantin was 7 years older than Wilhelmine. It is believed that Konstantin worked as a glass blower in a local factory. Together Wilhelmine and Konstantin made their home in Strzegowo, Poland (known as Striegenau in the German community), and they had 11 children:
1872 - Emilie (aka Amelia in the US), emigrated to the US in 1898
1875 (approx) - Edward, died in infancy
1878 - Wilhelm, emigrated to the US in 1905
1879 - Julius Wilhelm, died age 25-ish
1882 - Olga, emigrated to the US in 1904
1884 - Adolf, died in 1886
1886 - Paul, emigrated to the US in 1904
1888 - Ida, emigrated to the US in 1905
1890 - Juliana, emigrated to the US in 1907
1891 - Adolf, emigrated to the US in 1908
1895 - Anna, emigrated to the US in 1908
Daughter Emilie married in 1890, and had one surviving daughter Emilie (born in 1892). After Emilie's husband died in 1897, Emilie decided to emigrate to the United States in search of a better life. Her daughter Emilie was left in the care of grandparents Konstantin and Wilhelmine. In 1904, daughter Emilie followed her mother Emilie to the United States - she was accompanied by her uncle Paul Bayer.
Daughter Olga Bayer also emigrated to the United States in 1904, and was followed by Wilhelm and Ida in 1905, and then Juliana in 1907.
Konstantin Bayer died in 1906, from what is believed to be stomach cancer. In 1908, Wilhelmina (along with her youngest children Adolf and Anna) emigrated to the US - following all of her older children to Cleveland, Ohio.
In the US, Wilhelmina typically spent summers with her daughter Ida Bayer Heft (and family) in West Springfield Twp., Pennsylvania (just over the border from Ohio), and her winters with daughter Juliana (Julia) Bayer Krueger Abram (and family) in Cleveland.
On November 16, 1921, Wilhelmina remarried to an older widower named Ernest Walter (aka Walters), who was a neighbor of the Heft family in Pennsylvania. It was a small ceremony attended by the Hefts, some of Ernest's family and a few neighbors. It is said that Wilhelmina left Ernest shortly after they were married - but it is unknown if there was an official separation or divorce. Four years after their marriage (in 1925), Ernest died from injuries suffered in an automobile accident (it is said that he was thrown to the floor of a moving bus that stopped quickly).
Wilhelmina died September 30, 1937 in Cleveland at the age of 84 (see the note below). She is buried in Lutheran Cemetery in Cleveland. Daughter Julia never approved of her mother's second marriage, and made sure that her death certificate and headstone did not include any reference to her married name "Walter", but used "Bayer" instead.
From her obituary (unknown Cleveland newspaper on October 3, 1937); special thanks to Find A Grave user RMH for finding this in the Cleveland Necrology file:
Bayer, Wilhelmina, age 86 years, mother of Emilia Pfahl, William, Olga Mantz, Paul, Ida Heft, Julia (Krueger) Abram, Anna Teffner and the late Adolph, 31 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, Thursday at 8 a. m. residence, 3055 W. 15th st. Services at Immanuel Lutheran Church, corner Scranton-Seymour ave., Monday at 3 p. m.
*NOTE: According to her death certificate (and headstone), Wilhelmina Klaus Bayer was born on May 3, 1851. This information was reported by daughter Julia Bayer Krueger Abram, who insisted that her mother's birthday was the same as hers (May 3). Other family members (especially the family of daughter Ida Bayer Heft, with whom Wilhelmina spent her summers) believed this information to be incorrect. According to the Mlawa Evangelical Lutheran Church records, Wilhelmina was actually born on September 29, 1853 (and was baptized March 17, 1854). Her marriage record from the same church (dated January 8, 1871) indicates she was 17 years old, and references the 1854 baptism record - which corroborates her September 29, 1853 birthdate.
(bio updated on 5/04/2021)
Wilhelmina Klaus was born on September 29, 1853* in the village of Stolowo, Poland (near Proszkowo, south of Mlawa). Her parents were Friedrich Klaus and Karoline Huse. The Klaus and Huse families were part of the German diaspora living in this area of Poland - likely since the Partitions of Poland in the 1790's. They attended the Lutheran Church in the nearby city of Mlawa.
On January 8, 1871, Wilhelmine married Konstantin Bayer, also of German descent. Konstantin was 7 years older than Wilhelmine. It is believed that Konstantin worked as a glass blower in a local factory. Together Wilhelmine and Konstantin made their home in Strzegowo, Poland (known as Striegenau in the German community), and they had 11 children:
1872 - Emilie (aka Amelia in the US), emigrated to the US in 1898
1875 (approx) - Edward, died in infancy
1878 - Wilhelm, emigrated to the US in 1905
1879 - Julius Wilhelm, died age 25-ish
1882 - Olga, emigrated to the US in 1904
1884 - Adolf, died in 1886
1886 - Paul, emigrated to the US in 1904
1888 - Ida, emigrated to the US in 1905
1890 - Juliana, emigrated to the US in 1907
1891 - Adolf, emigrated to the US in 1908
1895 - Anna, emigrated to the US in 1908
Daughter Emilie married in 1890, and had one surviving daughter Emilie (born in 1892). After Emilie's husband died in 1897, Emilie decided to emigrate to the United States in search of a better life. Her daughter Emilie was left in the care of grandparents Konstantin and Wilhelmine. In 1904, daughter Emilie followed her mother Emilie to the United States - she was accompanied by her uncle Paul Bayer.
Daughter Olga Bayer also emigrated to the United States in 1904, and was followed by Wilhelm and Ida in 1905, and then Juliana in 1907.
Konstantin Bayer died in 1906, from what is believed to be stomach cancer. In 1908, Wilhelmina (along with her youngest children Adolf and Anna) emigrated to the US - following all of her older children to Cleveland, Ohio.
In the US, Wilhelmina typically spent summers with her daughter Ida Bayer Heft (and family) in West Springfield Twp., Pennsylvania (just over the border from Ohio), and her winters with daughter Juliana (Julia) Bayer Krueger Abram (and family) in Cleveland.
On November 16, 1921, Wilhelmina remarried to an older widower named Ernest Walter (aka Walters), who was a neighbor of the Heft family in Pennsylvania. It was a small ceremony attended by the Hefts, some of Ernest's family and a few neighbors. It is said that Wilhelmina left Ernest shortly after they were married - but it is unknown if there was an official separation or divorce. Four years after their marriage (in 1925), Ernest died from injuries suffered in an automobile accident (it is said that he was thrown to the floor of a moving bus that stopped quickly).
Wilhelmina died September 30, 1937 in Cleveland at the age of 84 (see the note below). She is buried in Lutheran Cemetery in Cleveland. Daughter Julia never approved of her mother's second marriage, and made sure that her death certificate and headstone did not include any reference to her married name "Walter", but used "Bayer" instead.
From her obituary (unknown Cleveland newspaper on October 3, 1937); special thanks to Find A Grave user RMH for finding this in the Cleveland Necrology file:
Bayer, Wilhelmina, age 86 years, mother of Emilia Pfahl, William, Olga Mantz, Paul, Ida Heft, Julia (Krueger) Abram, Anna Teffner and the late Adolph, 31 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, Thursday at 8 a. m. residence, 3055 W. 15th st. Services at Immanuel Lutheran Church, corner Scranton-Seymour ave., Monday at 3 p. m.
*NOTE: According to her death certificate (and headstone), Wilhelmina Klaus Bayer was born on May 3, 1851. This information was reported by daughter Julia Bayer Krueger Abram, who insisted that her mother's birthday was the same as hers (May 3). Other family members (especially the family of daughter Ida Bayer Heft, with whom Wilhelmina spent her summers) believed this information to be incorrect. According to the Mlawa Evangelical Lutheran Church records, Wilhelmina was actually born on September 29, 1853 (and was baptized March 17, 1854). Her marriage record from the same church (dated January 8, 1871) indicates she was 17 years old, and references the 1854 baptism record - which corroborates her September 29, 1853 birthdate.
Wilhelmina Klaus was born on September 29, 1853* in the village of Stolowo, Poland (near Proszkowo, south of Mlawa). Her parents were Friedrich Klaus and Karoline Huse. The Klaus and Huse families were part of the German diaspora living in this area of Poland - likely since the Partitions of Poland in the 1790's. They attended the Lutheran Church in the nearby city of Mlawa.
On January 8, 1871, Wilhelmine married Konstantin Bayer, also of German descent. Konstantin was 7 years older than Wilhelmine. It is believed that Konstantin worked as a glass blower in a local factory. Together Wilhelmine and Konstantin made their home in Strzegowo, Poland (known as Striegenau in the German community), and they had 11 children:
1872 - Emilie (aka Amelia in the US), emigrated to the US in 1898
1875 (approx) - Edward, died in infancy
1878 - Wilhelm, emigrated to the US in 1905
1879 - Julius Wilhelm, died age 25-ish
1882 - Olga, emigrated to the US in 1904
1884 - Adolf, died in 1886
1886 - Paul, emigrated to the US in 1904
1888 - Ida, emigrated to the US in 1905
1890 - Juliana, emigrated to the US in 1907
1891 - Adolf, emigrated to the US in 1908
1895 - Anna, emigrated to the US in 1908
Daughter Emilie married in 1890, and had one surviving daughter Emilie (born in 1892). After Emilie's husband died in 1897, Emilie decided to emigrate to the United States in search of a better life. Her daughter Emilie was left in the care of grandparents Konstantin and Wilhelmine. In 1904, daughter Emilie followed her mother Emilie to the United States - she was accompanied by her uncle Paul Bayer.
Daughter Olga Bayer also emigrated to the United States in 1904, and was followed by Wilhelm and Ida in 1905, and then Juliana in 1907.
Konstantin Bayer died in 1906, from what is believed to be stomach cancer. In 1908, Wilhelmina (along with her youngest children Adolf and Anna) emigrated to the US - following all of her older children to Cleveland, Ohio.
In the US, Wilhelmina typically spent summers with her daughter Ida Bayer Heft (and family) in West Springfield Twp., Pennsylvania (just over the border from Ohio), and her winters with daughter Juliana (Julia) Bayer Krueger Abram (and family) in Cleveland.
On November 16, 1921, Wilhelmina remarried to an older widower named Ernest Walter (aka Walters), who was a neighbor of the Heft family in Pennsylvania. It was a small ceremony attended by the Hefts, some of Ernest's family and a few neighbors. It is said that Wilhelmina left Ernest shortly after they were married - but it is unknown if there was an official separation or divorce. Four years after their marriage (in 1925), Ernest died from injuries suffered in an automobile accident (it is said that he was thrown to the floor of a moving bus that stopped quickly).
Wilhelmina died September 30, 1937 in Cleveland at the age of 84 (see the note below). She is buried in Lutheran Cemetery in Cleveland. Daughter Julia never approved of her mother's second marriage, and made sure that her death certificate and headstone did not include any reference to her married name "Walter", but used "Bayer" instead.
From her obituary (unknown Cleveland newspaper on October 3, 1937); special thanks to Find A Grave user RMH for finding this in the Cleveland Necrology file:
Bayer, Wilhelmina, age 86 years, mother of Emilia Pfahl, William, Olga Mantz, Paul, Ida Heft, Julia (Krueger) Abram, Anna Teffner and the late Adolph, 31 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, Thursday at 8 a. m. residence, 3055 W. 15th st. Services at Immanuel Lutheran Church, corner Scranton-Seymour ave., Monday at 3 p. m.
*NOTE: According to her death certificate (and headstone), Wilhelmina Klaus Bayer was born on May 3, 1851. This information was reported by daughter Julia Bayer Krueger Abram, who insisted that her mother's birthday was the same as hers (May 3). Other family members (especially the family of daughter Ida Bayer Heft, with whom Wilhelmina spent her summers) believed this information to be incorrect. According to the Mlawa Evangelical Lutheran Church records, Wilhelmina was actually born on September 29, 1853 (and was baptized March 17, 1854). Her marriage record from the same church (dated January 8, 1871) indicates she was 17 years old, and references the 1854 baptism record - which corroborates her September 29, 1853 birthdate.
Gravesite Details
Wilhelmina's grandson - William Henry Heft - was buried next to her upon his death in 1961.
